Weighing in On Serie A Squads Champions League Hopes

byBrian HallonSeptember 4, 2010

With the UEFA Champions League group tables set to begin action in a little more than a week let’s take a look at who in Serie A has the best chance of surviving the first round of the season long tournament:

1) Inter

Despite their challenging group, last year’s treble winners should hold onto one of the top two spots in their group this season. Italy’s strongest side will be challenged though by having to face a tough second seeded side in German squad Werder Bremen. The schedule doesn’t get any easier with a very tough number three seed in EPL squad Tottenham Hotspur. And the final squad hails from an underrated Dutch league with Twente.

2) Roma

Roma has a fairly good shot of surviving the Champions League first round although the side will have to play German champs and Champions League runners up last season Bayern Munich. The German side will be without their MVP top player this year though in Arjen Robben. The other two opponents are quite beatable in Switzerland side Basel and Romanian side CJR Cluj. Roma arguably has the best shot of any Italian team of easily advancing past the first round despite their team being the third best.

3) AC Milan

AC Milan might even be the strongest Serie A side at the moment with the additions of Robinho and Ibrahimovic, but they will be tested early in the Champions League with the Group of Death. La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid is a very tough opponent and will be a real test for the famous Italian organization. Dutch powerhouse Ajax is certainly not an easy third seeded opponent and the final seed is an underrated French league opponent in Auxerre.